Who is Abilene Tucker from Moon Over Manifest and what is their importance?

Abilene Tucker is a twelve year old girl who, during the Depression, is sent to Manifest, Kansas by her father to stay with an old friend. Abilene has grown up on the rails with her father, therefore she is a very mature young girl who has to put aside childhood things in favor of survival. Abilene recently had a life threatening illness when a cut on her leg became infected, prompting her father to send her away. Abilene fully believes her father will return for her at the end of the summer, but the response of the adults around her each time she suggests this leads her to believe she may be mistaken.